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acoustic

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /əˈkuː.stɪk/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -uːstɪk

Etymology 1

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    Borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) +‎ -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix).

    Adjective

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    acoustic (not comparable)

    1. Pertaining to the sense of hearing, the organs of hearing, or the science of sounds.
      Synonym: auditory
      1. (architecture, of building materials) Used for soundproofing or modifying sound.
      2. (of a device or system) Using sound energy in its operation.
      3. (weaponry, of an explosive mine or other weapon) Able to be set off by sound waves.
    2. (music) Naturally producing or produced by an instrument without electrical amplification or the need thereof.
      acoustic guitar, acoustic piano
      Coordinate term: unplugged
    3. (transferred sense, humorous or proscribed) Non-electric; mechanical or otherwise basic.
      Synonym: analog
      acoustic bike
      • 2020 June 4, 14:45 from the start, in No More Jockeys‎[1], season 1, episode 7, spoken by Tim Key and Mark Watson:
        KEY: I've had a banana in banana cake.
        WATSON: But you haven't had a sort of acoustic banana?
      • 2022 May 19, “How to Get Started Biking”, in Wired‎[2]:
        For a lot of people, riding a bike through a crowded city—or even on suburban avenues—might feel daunting. Should you get an electric or acoustic bicycle?
      • 2025 November 30, David Darlington, “The Shocking Crash That Led Marin County to Reckon With the Dangers of E-Bikes”, in The New York Times Magazine‎[3], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 November 2025:
        E-bikes have now become so popular that old-fashioned, human-powered ones are tagged as “analog” or “acoustic” bikes.
    Derived terms
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    Translations
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    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked

    Noun

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    acoustic (plural acoustics)

    1. (usually in the plural) The properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it.
    2. (medicine) A medicine or other agent to assist hearing.
    3. Clipping of acoustic guitar.
    Translations
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    Etymology 2

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      Due to the shared metrical structure of autistic and acoustic. Popularized on TikTok in late October 2023.[1]

      Adjective

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      acoustic (comparative more acoustic, superlative most acoustic)

      1. (social media, offensive) Euphemistic form of autistic.
        Synonym: artistic
        • 2014 November 22, u/Victorboris1, “anon is acoustic”, in Reddit‎[4], r/4chan, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:
          Implying mathematicians aren't acoustic. I'm an engineer, and even mathematicians freak me out with their autism.
        • 2017 May 14, “Are ADHD spinners /ourtoy/ ?”, in Reddit‎[5], r/4chan, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:
          Spinners are for severely acoustic children
        • [2023 July 7, “Anon is a little acoustic”, in Reddit‎[6], r/4chan, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:
          I explained I got a 3 day ban for calling someone acoustic because it's bullying/harassment, hence the use of acoustic.]
        • 2023 December 2, @ScarletGodzilla, Twitter‎[7], archived from the original on 5 December 2023:
          cant stand self diagnosed acoustic people ☠️
        • 2023 December 4, @yeahabsolutelyy, Twitter‎[8], archived from the original on 5 December 2023:
          the whole "is he acoustic" tiktok comment shit is so fucking annoying and just ableist at this point and i'm so sick of it
      Notes
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      Though often considered to be euphemistic, this term is widely regarded by autistic people and autistic advocates to be an ableist slur.[2][3] It is therefore proscribed in many conversational contexts.

      References

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      1. ^ “Acoustic (Slang)”, in Know Your Meme, website first launched 2007
      2. ^ https://www.wikihow.com/Acoustic-Meaning-Slang
      3. ^ https://au-ti.com/2024/01/18/is-he-acoustic-harmless-fun-or-underlying-ableism/

      Further reading

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